Page 220 of The Hookup Experiment

Imogen: 10 works.

Patrick: You sure? We can wait until tomorrow.

Imogen: Do you want to wait?

Patrick: No.

Imogen: What time do you get to Inked Love?

Patrick: Two. Are you in Orange County?

Imogen: How'd you know?

Patrick: Your sister texted me.

Imogen: She did not.

Patrick: Yeah. She said she did this with your ex, only it was him texting her, so she wanted to get ahead of it. Just in case.

Imogen: I'm going to kill her.

Patrick: Don't. I'll miss you too much when they throw you in jail.

Imogen: Okay. For you.

Patrick: I appreciate that.

Imogen: What did she say?

Patrick: I'm an idiot and I hurt you.

Imogen: That's true.

Patrick: I'm sorry.

Imogen: I know. I am too. This got… complicated.

Patrick: The best things always do.

Julie interrupts with a request to take a walk. We talk about her mostly, then I say goodbye, and I head home.

Only I don't go to my place.

I go to him.

* * *

My hands shakeas I reach for the door. I don't know what to say, where to start. Only that I need to see him. I really need to see him.

The bell rings.

Attention turns to me.

Luna, at the front desk, chatting with Dare.

Patrick.

He freezes the moment he sees me.